A heavy metal hand descended on the boy's shoulder with a firm clap. He tensed but he forced himself not to startle.
"Congratulations, Jojo. You've made me proud."
The man's words of affirmation unwound the knot in Jojo's stomach, replacing it with a warm pride. "Th-thank you," Jojo managed. When the man, hand still firmly clutching his shoulder, did not respond, Jojo added a faux-confident "I told you I could do it." He tugged on the straps of his backpack more tightly. An anxiety-quelling habit.
It was not easy to impress Godlove Benjamin. The man was as unsettling as an earthquake. Even now, Jojo could not garner even the slightest idea of what he could be thinking behind those dark, scrutinizing eyes. But he'd told him that he was proud, and those words inspired hope.
Godlove smiled, revealing two gold teeth at the top and a silver canine at the bottom, amongst rows of pearly whites. He let the boy go and wandered back towards the card table where he took up one of the sticks of roasted asparagus.
They were in the warehouse— an oversized storage room filled with lockboxes of unused equipment. Around the space were several ominous barred enclosures, some on the ground, others raised— shadow obscuring their contents. "When you came to me... what was it, three... four years ago? I asked you a question." Godlove leaned against the table and pointed the asparagus stick in Jojo's direction. "Do you remember what that question was?"
Jojo took an errant glance towards one of the raised cages and swallowed.
"Jojo." Godlove's voice was a booming echo.
Jojo snapped his gaze back on him, pulled at the bottom of his canary-yellow beanie cap, and cleared his throat. "You uh... you asked me why I wanted to be a trainer... sir."
"Yeah, that's it." Godlove glanced down towards the small golden-scaled creature at Jojo's side. It was a shrewd little critter with attentively perked cat ears. It bore the thick hide of an armadillo but was several times more resilient. Golden-hued skin made its deep obsidian eyes stand out. They were fixed on Godlove, like Jojo's.
"You came to me all excited and shit cuz you caught that lil Sandshrew," Godlove said, chuckling at the memory. "You remember that, Godson?" He nudged a boy next to him, nearly toppling him over with the wrangling motion.
The kid was only a few years Jojo's junior. The dark features and sharp jawline made him the portrait of a prepubescent Godlove.
The boy nodded warily. He was seated in a folding chair with an oversized cragged, gray rock on the floor between his feet. The rock had eyes.
Godlove turned his attention from his son, back to Jojo. "And what was it you told me?"
"I said that I wanted to be a Pokémon Master," Jojo said, trying to keep the tremble out of his voice.
"Why?" Godlove asked before taking a bite of the Asparagus stalk.
Jojo's breath caught before he could answer. He knew where this was going. It was nowhere good. "Because... because it's been my dream since I was a kid." The answer fell from his lips as if it were a guilt admission.
"But you're not a kid anymore, are you?"
"No, sir."
"Sixteen years old... damn near grown. Just whooped Bronx's ass," Godson said, motioning towards a large brute of a man who stood cross-armed on the opposite side of him from his son. "That was good shit. You know, I ain't ever know a Sandshrew could move like that," he said motioning back towards the golden creature again.
The Sandshrew's ear twitched but didn't otherwise seem to take pride in Godlove's words. It had just done battle against one of the broad-shouldered man's creatures and had done an impressive job of defeating an opponent that was easily six times its size. But the Sandshrew, like Jojo, knew that Godlove was never a person one could afford to lose focus around.
"So, you wanted to be a master... like all those kids on the TV. Wanted to catch a bunch of Pokémon, beat the best trainers, and get alla that fame..." A fuchsia-coated cat yawned and padded its way over to Godlove's leg and pushed her head against it, purring as it peered at Jojo with mischievous, slit eyes. A lengthy, slender tail trailed behind it, curved into a scythe at the tip, oscillating from one side to the other. "But instead, you came to me. Why did you do that, exactly?"
Jojo felt his throat dry up again. Godlove was testing him. Jojo was sure that when it came to Godlove's questions, there was always a right answer... and a wrong one. "I..."
"Somethin' to do with your pops, right? Something to do with you 'wasting your time?'"
Jojo clenched his jaw and adjusted his beanie again. His hairline was moist with sweat beneath it. "My dad tried to be a master when he was my age. It... it didn't work out for him."
Godlove's tone dropped even deeper than it already was. "Your father was a failure and a perfect example of the flaws in the way we've industrialized the use of these creatures."
Jojo bit his tongue. He cared for his father but... Godlove was right. He failed at becoming a Pokémon Master and then forbade his son from ever trying his hand at the same path. "I'm not my dad."
A serpentine smile took Godlove's lips. "We'll see about that," he said. "So... why don't you answer me this, Jojo? Now that you're nearly a grown-ass man... after I trained and taught you all these years, tell me... do you still want to be a master?"
Jojo could feel his heart pounding in his chest. This is what Godlove did. His every look, question, and gesture was an examination— a cross reference of character. He'd known that it had all been to build him up— to make him stronger but...
He flicked his eyes to Bronx. No. He'd proven himself. He didn't need to play Godlove's games anymore. He was at the finish line. Jojo lifted his chin. "My reasons are different now."
"But you still want it, don't you?" Godlove asked. He pushed himself off the table, tossing the half-eaten asparagus back onto the plate. "You haven't learned anything from me, have you? You still think this is a game, like the rest of the world does."
"That's not true," Jojo said, his face twisting into a frustrated frown. "I've done everything you've said for four years."
Godlove stalked forward while tugging one of his ring-gouged earlobes. "No, no, no, you heard me, but did you really listen to me, Jojo?" The cat followed behind him, the golden shapes on her coat oddly bright in the dark of the warehouse. Liepards were indeed known for keeping themselves fashionably groomed. "Do you know what the Pokémon were called before we got hold of them?"
Jojo didn't answer. His eyes had fixated on one of the cages where he heard low, portentous breathing.
"They were Majuu... magical creatures," Godlove said as he massaged the Liepard's head with dexterous fingers. She purred in response. "They only started being called Pokémon after we proverbially neutered them... forced them into balls, stunting their growth."
He paused, taking the moment to look down at the Liepard, who returned the stare affectionately. "We use the Majuu as toys. We have our children hunt them, catch them, and then flaunt them around on TV for international entertainment instead of realizing their true purpose. Do you know what that purpose is, Jojo?"
"Power?" Jojo spoke the word like it was a question.
Godlove tilted his head and stared at Jojo for a minute before speaking again. "Why don't you take a walk, Jojo?" Jojo opened his mouth to speak but Godlove interrupted him again. "Walk." The command was nonnegotiable.
Jojo's heart plummeted. He'd done everything Godlove had told him over the years. Everything. He'd trained his Pokémon like a true pro. He'd beaten all of Godlove's top lieutenants in battle, just to get a shot at him, so that he could prove that he could be the best so that he could go to the league, and— no! That's not what Pokémon were for... or... at least not according to Godlove. Had Jojo truly learned nothing from his time here?
With a deep breath and a high head, Jojo spun on his heel and made for the exit. "Let's go, Sandshrew." The golden hide Pokémon followed.
"You better keep your guard up, Youngblood," Godlove said.
Jojo paused. Then he smiled to himself, suddenly reinvigorated. Godlove never said anything without purpose. This was no dismissal. It was another test. Perhaps his final trial. He continued out of the warehouse, head high, running his fingers across the smooth surfaces of the compressed, spherical capsules on his belt.
Jojo took to the dark of Ground Zero, navigating the labyrinthian alleys that led away from the meeting place in the warehouse. He gripped a polished sphere in hand, its half-white, half-crimson hemispheres separated by an opening that could be activated by a button with the circumference of a fingertip
He moved slowly, taking in his surroundings with all senses. The sounds of the city's nightlife could be heard in the distance. The air was only a tepid cool but its every brush sent a chill up Jojo's spine. The walls of several storied buildings blocked out any vestige of the moon's light and this deep, only the occasional back-alley passerby was present.
There were no vehicles about except those that hovered overhead, dodging above and below the myriad bridges and elevated walkways between buildings adorned with bright holographic signage. Jojo's Sandshrew's ears, short as they may be, stood at attention. He too understood the fact that they were in the midst of a trial and that any false step could spell them defeat.
A sound like quickening wind came, faint in the night air, and when it did, the Sandshrew was already tucked, a golden spherical mass slamming into the side of a large lavender-coated feline that had been pouncing for Jojo himself. The attacker was sent sprawling but landed with ease on the side of the wall. It darted off back and forth so fast, she looked like little more than a blur of purple and spotted gold bouncing off the walls.
"It's Luci!" Jojo shouted as he sprinted in the opposite direction. He leaped a railing and landed on the steps of a flight of stairs moving up towards a low-level alley bridge between buildings. Luci the Liepard followed close on his trail, even doing as much to dodge another rolling tackle attempt from the Sandshrew, hardly slowing in the process.
Jojo scrambled up the steps to the bridge and performed a spinning leap. A Pokéball launched from him rotating end over end until suddenly, it lurched in mid-air and the two dichromatic halves split open like a creature's maw. A bright, pure energy spilled from the capsule, which quickly reformed into a bipedal, broad-shouldered creature.
It was a muscular amphibian behemoth with skin the color of a twilight sky. Standing roughly 6 feet in height, the Pokémon's body rippled with tight sinew, embroiled with immense power. However, what stood out most aside from his impressive stature was the hypnotic spiral symbol emblazoned across its abdomen in a vortex of black and white.
Even as it manifested, it swung a hulking fist towards Luci, but ever the lithe creature, she managed to skirt around it and make a leap for Jojo. Unfortunately for her, the behemoth, or more credibly, Jojo's Poliwrath, was swift enough to snatch her back by her long, scythe-tipped tail and slam her on the other side of him, away from Jojo.
Jojo exhaled in relief. "I cut it pretty close there," he muttered to himself from a one-knee crouch. And he was at that moment, thankful for the strength and power of his Pokémon. His quartet served him well and he held an intimate fondness for each of them.
The Poliwrath that fought for him now, he'd caught when he was on a trip away from Blue Light City. He'd saved him from the jaws of an oversized Croconaw when he was only a tiny rotund tadpole-like Poliwag. But knowing their affinity for melee combat, Jojo trained it up until it evolved into the muscled fighting machine that he was now. There was a time when he was unsure whether or not his Poliwrath could fight Luci, but watching him now, Jojo was swiftly becoming convinced.
Poliwrath, a master of both elemental water attacks and hand-to-hand combat, sent forceful strikes into the air that spawned compressed torrents of water that lunged at the Liepard-like targeted missiles. They forced the fair-furred feline to dodge awkwardly on the narrow bridge, and ultimately pushed it back, away from Jojo's position. Though she hadn't been hit yet, it would only be a matter of time before she slipped up and caught a face-full of relentless water.
Jojo marveled at the battle for only a moment longer before turning and sprinting the rest of the way to the rooftop, retrieving another two Pokéballs from his belt, sure that Godlove would have sent more than just Luci after him. She was powerful, sure, but he couldn't have thought so lowly of him that he'd sent only her.
He'd seen the Liepard fight before, and her speed struck fear into him... but that was before he'd fully trained his own Pokémon to the level that they were at now. He'd show Godlove that he could be a master no matter what the older man thought about the league.
And then Jojo heard his Poliwrath roar in pain, just in time to see a flash of fur move past the amphibian Pokémon, a deep claw gash left in his right shoulder that left his arm dangling, the tendons slit. "Poliwrath!" Jojo shouted, but he didn't have the time to lament. Luci was bounding towards him with terrifying speed. Sandshrew tried to interrupt her, but she dashed past him, with lightning speed. Jojo let the two balls in his hand fly.
From the first came a small marsupial coated in black, white, and golden fur. The flaps beneath his arms were like sails that allowed him to fly like an avian creature. While only a foot in height, it packed a punch like an electric generator. Thunderbolts lanced out from the small creature, striking at Luci with resounding claps of raw power, forcing her again to change course.
Jojo's heart beat furiously in his chest. He tried to remind himself that this was just a trial, that he wasn't truly fighting for his life. But the way she had been barreling down on him... if it wasn't for the last-minute assist from his electric type Emolga... no... he didn't have time to let negativity foment in his mind.
The second ball split open and a thick white plume of fog burst free, as a cerulean bird flew upwards with cumulous clouds spilling from its wings. Its beak pointed like a focused arrow as it changed direction to circle about the Liepard. The Altaria had long legs and neck, but the clouds that coated its wings, afforded it the ability to create instant cover. She was aiming to obfuscate Luci's senses with the thick, concealing clouds.
No matter where Luci ran, the Altaria was there, creating more clouds. It was only a matter of moments before she'd been completely overtaken by the mist. If Godlove underestimated him so much as to only send one Pokémon then Jojo would teach him just how much he'd grown.
"Alright, Poliwrath, let's get some moisture in there!" The Poliwrath grunted an affirmative as it lifted its good arm, and from its fingertips, created, large glowing bubbles, which fired into the clouds, where they exploded, inundating them.
"Emolga, you're up," Jojo said, with a smirk. He could feel his confidence blooming as his strategy did the same. "You're mine now, Luci." Within the plume, where the Emolga was already covered, along with Luci, electricity began to crackle. If none of his Pokémon were fast enough to catch Luci, then he'd just have to attack from everywhere at once. If that meant manifesting a storm... then so be it.
The condensed storm boomed with each spike of amber energy, the air filling with the acrid scent of ozone. The thunderclaps increased progressively, and all around onlookers watched the spectacle of a storm made manifest from high balconies and dark windows. In another few moments, this would all be over. Not even Luci could take that kind of damage. The power in the storm, built and built, and then...
...Nothing.
For several long moments, Jojo stared at the cloud, heartbeat thudding in his chest. He searched for a sign of Emolga flying from the mist, chittering its victory. Instead, he spied the silhouette of a figure much larger than Emolga emerging from the wisps of cloud. The head was hunched low, as it padded soundlessly on stealthy paws. Luci. Impossibly, she'd managed to survive a ubiquitous attack.
"You still haven't learned, have you?" Godlove's voice came from above. Jojo spun to see him hovering above on the back of a bird with a long spear-like beak and large wide-spanning steel wings flapping viciously. "You still fight like these trainers who have dreams of 'mastering' their Majuu." Behind him on the back of the metal-skinned Skarmory, Godlove's son, Godson, watched with large, apprehensive eyes.
Jojo turned back to face Luci, and his heart caught in his chest. Clamped tightly within her fanged jaws was Emolga's body, hanging limp. Rivulets of blood dripped from where the small electric rodent had been impaled clean through.
"Good plan. Could've ended Luci then and there." Godlove shrugged. "But you you held back. And look what it cost you."
Tears welled at the edges of Jojo's eyes, his heart plunging into his stomach.
"You train your Majuu to fight like they have a competition to win... instead of scrapping like their lives depend on it. That's why you fail."
Jojo couldn't speak. His lips trembled, as he backed away from the Liepard, who continued to stalk forward. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. Luci... she'd really... "Emolga..." he choked out.
An indignant screech pierced the air and Altaria came diving like a javelin, beak aimed for Luci. "Altaria, no!" Jojo shouted, eyes agape with fear. The cloud-winged Pokémon was angry and attacking recklessly. This was not how they trained! If he didn't stop-!
The Liepard's tail whipped with expert precision. The screech was cut short. Altaria dropped to the ground. Its head dropped meters away from it.
Jojo's knees hit the ground, quivering hands gripping tight on the yellow beanie. "No... god, no..." he breathed out disbelief coloring his every word.
Luci dropped Elmoga's body from hits maw, the small creature so light it barely made a sound when it hit the ground. She stalked towards Jojo. Suddenly a golden ball of armor came flying like a cannonball for Luci. She tensed and hissed, only dodging at the very last moment.
Behind him, Poliwrath came barreling towards Jojo and scooped him up in a muscled arm. Sandshrew managed to leap on his good shoulder before Poliwrath bounded with powerful legs to an adjacent platform.
The chase was on. Luci followed like a voracious hunter, barreling down on her wounded prey as they continued to leap from platform to bridge to stairway. The holographic storefronts and billboards were a blur to Jojo as they moved through the buildings, alleys, and streets. The blue lights from police drones passed far overhead but none of them stopped. Even if that had been noticed, they would not be fast enough to keep with Poliwrath's leaps or Liepard's speed.
Still, as powerful as Poliwrath was, his endurance wasn't made for chases. Before long, the Liepard caught them in an alley and Poliwrath was forced to put Jojo down and face his opponent. Sandshrew leaped off his shoulder, prepared to do battle alongside him.
Poliwrath towered over Luci. Even with a maimed arm, his visage was imposing. He let out a roar that sounded vaguely like the last half of his name and punched the air. A rushing torrent of water spewed forward, wide and encompassing, but like a blur, Luci had somehow darted beneath it, claws slashing ferociously at the muscled Pokémon's head. His good arm went up to guard it but blood sprayed from a fresh wound left by incisive claws.
However, the Poliwrath expected the pain... welcomed it even. He leaned into the attack to get what he needed... and his large hand fastened around the Liepard's neck before he handily slammed her into the ground. He had her now.
He was a hulking mass of power, and as quick as she was, there was little the feline could do now that she was in his grasp. Poliwrath was a colossal behemoth, trained for brutality. Jojo had seen to that under Godlove's tutelage.
The Poliwrath clenched his large hand tighter, cutting off her airflow, but he did not finish the deed. Not yet. He looked at Jojo, who stared back at him with wide eyes. He awaited a command. The command. And then—
Schlickt!
Poliwrath's eyes bulged quivering in shock, and then they dimmed entirely. Coming out of his chest, right in the center of his spiral, was a sharp, purple-furred scythe, drenched in his blood. It lingered there for a moment before making a wet exit as it pulled out from the rear, the Liepard's long tail returning from where it had snaked around its opponent's back. Poliwrath's body thudded onto the ground in a hefty heap.
Tears spilled down Jojo's face from horrified eyes, his mouth agape, but too dry for speech.
"You see, Jojo," Godlove's voice sounded again as the large metal armored bird landed on the ground behind Luci. "You don't have what it takes. Even when your companions are willing to do any and everything for you, you still fail them."
Jojo's shivering eyes found Godlove, and then his son, Godson, behind him.
The younger boy looked back with eyes that offered nothing.
"I had faith in you, too. I thought maybe you'd look past your petty aspirations to what was real but..." he sighed, disappointed. "Well... Luci?"
The lavender-furred feline stalked forward, licking its fangs.
Sandshrew stepped in front of Jojo. His companion from the beginning. The first Pokémon he'd ever caught, out on his grandfather's ranch. He'd grown so strong over the years... better than any Sandshrew he'd ever seen before. And here he was with him, at the end, ready to lay his life down for him.
Luci became a blur, tail-scythe whistling as it slashed through the air, painting bright red on the streets of Blue Light City.